Monday, October 31, 2011

Tony La Russa announced his retirement Monday, just three days after managing the St. Louis Cardinals to the World Series title.

La Russa, 67, had managed in the major leagues for 33 years, 16 of them with the Cardinals, who defeated the Texas Rangers in seven games for his third World Series crown.

"We went through the season and I felt that this just feels like it's time to end it and I think it's going to be great for the Cardinals to refresh what's going on here," La Russa told a St. Louis news conference.

He said no one factor led to his decision.

"They all just come together telling you your time is over," he said.

La Russa compiled a 2,728-2,365 record, ranking behind only Connie Mack (3,731) and John McGraw (2,763) in Major League wins.

He won World Series titles with the Cardinals in 2006 and 2011 and with the Oakland Athletics in 1989.

La Russa is the only Major League manager to win multiple pennants in both leagues and the second to win a World Series title in each. Sparky Anderson won World Series titles with Cincinnati and Detroit.

"We're grateful for what he's done for the Cardinals all these years," St. Louis chairman and chief executive officer Bill DeWitt Jr. said.

La Russa, a likely Hall of Famer, began his managerial career with the Chicago White Sox in 1979 and moved to the Athletics nine seasons later. He became the Cardinals manager in 1996.